Musical toy



G. A 'HEIMER June 24, 1930,

MUSICAL TOY Filed May 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheetv 2 Zlnuenfoz QvZHeivner;

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Scan M Patented June 24, 1930 PATENT OFFICE GRANVILLE A. HEIMEB, OF NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA MUSICAL TOY Application filed May 21, 1929. Serial No. 364,880.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel musical toy having a novel plectrum element and novel means for mounting the same in combination with one or more piano wires of the desired pitch arranged to be sounded by the plectrum; and to provide novel means for carrying and actuating this toy, either in the form of a wheeled musical toy or in the form of a toy piano or in any other suitable means embodying the novel elements described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

I attain these and other objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a musical toy embodying my invention;

Fig. 2- is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a toy piano of the grand piano type to which my invention is applied;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section on v line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view with the cover removed, of a modified disposition of the piano wires extending transversely instead of diagonally of the main frame of the piano,

this form of the piano being rectangular in shape and of the square piano type.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I provide a plectrum 10 having a head 11, the plectrum 10 extending resiliently through a perforation 12 in a small piece of cylindrical rubber tubing 8. This rubber tubing is fastened near its ends by U-shaped tacks 9 to a suitable plectrum carrying member 7, which in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3 is the axle of a wheeled toy.

I provide a vibrant wire,such as the piece of piano wire 5, mounted on suitable bridges 6 and fastened in a suitable manner, as by the pins or tacks 4, to a suitable support,

such as the strip of wood 2, which as illustrated in Figs. 1-3 may be one of the sections of cylinder 1 of the wheeled toy illustrated.

Referring to Figs. 1-3, the sections 2 formjing the body of the cylinder mounted on end discs 3, which are in turn loosely mounted on the cylindrical portions 13 of the axle 7. I provide a metal strip 15 engaging the ends 13 of axle and to this metal strip 15 the handle 16 is afiixed, as by the screw 17. I may, however, afiix the handle16 directly to the cylindrical portion of the toy and mount the axle on outer wheels, Which will cause the axle to revolve while the cylindrical portion of the toy remains stationary. I regard these in.- structions as substantially equivalent and have illustrated the original form of my invention in Figs. 1-3.

As the toy is pushed alon the plectrum strikes against the stretched vibrant wire 5, causing it to vibrate and sound, the plectrum being resiliently mounted on the rubber tubing, springs to one side sufficiently to pass over the wire, thus sounding it. I preferably provide wires of different sizes and stretch to produce tones of different musical pitch, whereby to increase the attractiveness of the toy from a musical standpoint. I may provide any suitable number of wires, arranged in a similar fashion to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring to Figs. 4-6, my invention is illustrated as applying to a toy piano. The plectrum 10 having the head 11, is inserted through a cylindrical rubber tubing 8, the ends of which in turn are fastened by U-shaped tacks 9 to the plectrum carrying member 7. I provide a suitable piano wire 5 for each plectrum, this piano wire being mounted on a suitable bridge, or wire-supporting member 6 and fastened in a suitable manner as by the pins 4 to a suitable support, such as the diagonal end strip 2 of the piano frame and to the sounding board 26 of the piano, as shown in Fig. 4.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the piano wires are arranged at right angles instead of diagonally of the main frame of the piano and of the plectrums 10. As thus arranged the piano is of square or rectangular shape instead of having a heart shape of the grand piano model illustrated in Fig. 4. The mode of operation is, however, identical.

The piano is provided with a suitable top 18. Key 18 is mo nted on a suit w the same shape as" the frame of the pie 0. The plectrum member '7 is pivotally connected by to the bifurcated portion of the pia le pivot 19 beneath the rod 20. The enl 23 ot the piano key is exposed through the open portion 24: of the piano frame. to be operated by the finger oi the child playing the instrument.

The plectrum and piano wire construction produces a pleasing comparatively sustained musical tone, much more ne: emblin the note of a real piano than is produced on the toy pianos in general use, which employ or cover srip 25 3 small Xylophones as their musical means of producing sound.

Vhile I provide a U-shaped tack 9 for tastening the rubber tubing holding the plectrum on the pivoted wood mounting member, it

- is within the contemplation of my invenbe brought into contact with the vibrant wire to sound same, a short strip of rubber tubing in which the plectrum is resiliently supported, a pivoted member on which the rubber tubing is mounted, and means for fastening said rubber tubing at points spaced substan r member on which the resilient plectrum carrying member is mounted, and a pivotally mounted piano key having its end directly connected with the pivoted plectrum carrying member.

3. In a toy piano, the combination of a series of vibrant wires of different pitch, a frame on which said vibrant wires are mounted in spaced relation and in tense position, a series of pivotally mounted keys having their outer ends exposed for playing, each of the keys having a pivotally mounted plectrum carrying member mounted on the end thereof, a strip of rubber tubing having its ends aflixed to said plectrum carrying member, and a plectrum inserted through the rubber tubing and adapted to have sufiicientresilient action to pass over the strings on striking and sounding them.

a. In a toy piano, the combination of a se ries of vibrant wires of different pitch, 21

frame on which said vibrant wires are mounted in spaced relation and in tense position, said frame being of approximately a heart shape to resemble a grand piano, a series oi pivotally mounted keys having their outer ends exposed for playing, each of the keys having a pivotally mounted plectrum carrying member mounted on the end thereof, means for resiliently mounting a plectrum on each pivoted plectrum carrying n'ielnber and a plectrum on each plectrum carrying member, and a resiliently mounted plectrum.

GRANVILLE A. HEIMER. 

